Snow melting tool system and method

ABSTRACT

The snow melting tool reduces physical strain on the body from shoveling snow. It connects to a small propane tank for power. It effectively prevents cracks and chips in the asphalt caused by traditional shoveling. It saves time and frustration when clearing off sidewalks and driveways. It helps business owners remove snow for their customers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/874,598 filed Jul. 16, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of combustion of existing art and, more specifically, relates to a flame holder and fuel tank assembly.

RELATED ART

It can be physically exhausting to drag out shovels from the garage or shed and shovel snow. People with certain heart conditions may even be prohibited from shoveling snow altogether. Other people may pay to have their sidewalks and driveways shoveled, but this can be expensive over time, especially in snowy regions. Additionally, shovels may cause small cracks and chips in asphalt, which can create large problems over time. Further, business owners may see a reduction in customers if they don't remove snow promptly. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,957,680 to Kyle Bargoot relates to a handheld snow melter. The described handheld snow melter is a handheld propane or stabilized methylacetylene-propadiene fueled parabolic heated intended for use in removing snow and ice. The handheld propane or stabilized methylacetylene-propadiene torch is used to heat a ceramic cone. The ceramic cone is mounted in a parabolic reflector that is used to direct the heat toward the snow or ice targeted by the user. The handheld snow melter comprises a reflector, a torch attachment, and a grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages inherent in the known flame holder and fuel tank assembly art, the present disclosure provides a novel snow melting system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a portable, efficient, and effective means by which to remove snow and ice.

A snow melting system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a snow melting assembly having a wand including a handle, and a tip, a hose, a fuel source tank with fuel, and a holder. The handle further comprises a trigger and a lighter button, and the tip is wide-mouthed and has an oval-shaped opening. The holder comprises a belt, wherein the belt comprises a fastener such as a buckle or the like. The refillable fuel source tank contains and dispenses the fuel upon demand. The fuel is dispensed when a valve is opened and remains contained when the valve is closed. The fuel comprises propane in preferred embodiments, wherein the fuel source tank comprises a propane tank.

The wand comprises a metal, and the fuel source tank is removably attachable to the holder via a clip. The hose is flexible and is removably couplable to and from the fuel source tank. The trigger has at least two positions (on/off). As such, the snow melting assembly is configured to permit a user to melt snow and ice when fuel is ignited at the tip of the wand, and the wand is directed upon the snow and ice. The snow melting assembly is portable and user-worn.

The snow melting system further comprises a set of instructions and wherein the snow melting system is arranged as a kit.

A method of use for the snow melting system is also disclosed herein, the method comprising the steps of mounting a snow melting assembly, pointing a wand at the snow, igniting fuel, and melting the snow or ice. The method may further comprise the step of opening a valve before the igniting of the fuel via a trigger.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood referencing the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a snow melting system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the snow melting system during an ‘in use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snow melting system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the snow melting system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the snow melting system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the snow melting system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will be described with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a flame holder and fuel tank assembly and, more particularly, to a snow melting system as used to improve the efficiency of snow and ice melting.

Generally, the Snow Melting Tool melts the snow away, doing away with traditional shoveling. This innovative product features an elongated, lightweight, torch-like tool with an attached adjustable waistband. The handle of the tool can be made from plastic or other suitable material and can have a trigger on the underside and an internal control knob on the side. In some versions, a 2 foot long, lightweight metal tube extends out from the handle. On the end of the tube can be a wide-mouthed, oval-shaped opening. The adjustable waistband can have a snap buckle in the front and a holder for a small propane tank on the hip. In use, people can secure the waistband around their midsection and hit the ignite button. Holding down the trigger, the user can aim the wide-mouthed opening at the snow, melting snow from the heat.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a snow melting system 100.

FIG. 1 shows a snow melting system 100 during an ‘in use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the snow melting system 100 may be beneficial for use by a user to melt snow and ice. As illustrated, the snow melting system 100 may include a snow melting assembly 110 having a wand 120 including a handle 122, and a tip 128, a hose 130, a fuel source tank 132 with fuel, and a holder 134. The snow melting assembly 110 is configured to permit a user to melt snow and ice when the fuel is ignited and extends a flame from and at the tip 128 of the wand 120. The wand 120 is directed upon the snow and ice by the user. The snow melting assembly 110 is portable and user-worn.

The handle 122 further comprises a trigger 124 and a control knob 126. The trigger 124 and a control knob126 are used in combination to ignite the fuel via suitable means. In some versions, trigger 124 is a press-and-hold trigger. The tip 128 is wide-mouthed, having an oval-shaped opening. Tip 128 is the burner or melter for the device.

The holder 134 comprises a belt 136 or other suitable holding means, wherein the belt 136 comprises a fastener 138 such as a buckle or the like. Other fastening means may be used.

The refillable fuel source tank 132 contains and dispenses the fuel as per user manipulation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of dispensing means are available, including valve 140, automatic valves, pumping systems, metered systems, etc. The fuel is dispensed when a valve 140 is opened. The fuel travels from the fuel source tank 132 through the hose 130 into the wand 120 and exits the tip 128. The trigger 124 and a control knob126 are used to control the flow of the fuel and to control if the fuel is lighted, respectively. The trigger 124 has at least two positions (on/off or may be adjustable between a range of positions). The fuel used preferably comprises propane or the like. In some embodiments, the fuel source tank 132 comprises a propane tank. And in some embodiments, the wand 120 comprises metal. Other suitable materials may be used. The fuel source tank 132 is removably attachable to the holder 134 via a clip or other suitable means. The hose 130 is flexible for ease of use. In some embodiments, the hose 130 is constructed out of flexible material that maintains the hose's 130 flexibility to temperatures below freezing. In some embodiments, flexible means having a loan of stiffness that a user can manipulate the hose during use. In some embodiments, maintain the hose's flexibility to temperatures below freezing means that the hose is at least 90, 80, 70, 60, or 50% as flexible as the hose is at 60° F. The hose 130 is removably couplable to and from the fuel source tank 132 via suitable means (threaded, quick-couple, or the like).

According to one embodiment, the snow melting system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the snow melting system 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the snow melting system 100 such that the snow melting system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use 500 for the snow melting system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of use 500 may include one or more components or features of the snow melting system 100, as described above. As illustrated, the method of use 500 may include the steps of step one 501, mounting a snow melting assembly; step two 502, pointing a wand at snow; step three 503, igniting fuel, step four 504 melting the snow (or ice). The method may further comprise the step five 505 of opening a valve before the igniting of the fuel via a trigger.

It should be noted that step 505 is optional and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of the method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 to distinguish them from the other steps of the method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for use of the snow melting system are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A snow melting system, the system comprising: a snow melting assembly having a wand including a handle having a trigger, and a tip, a hose, a fuel source tank with a fuel, and a holder, wherein the snow melting assembly is configured to permit a user to melt snow and ice when the fuel is ignited at the tip of the wand and the wand is directed upon the snow and ice, and wherein the snow melting assembly is portable and user-worn.
 2. The snow melting system of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a lighter button.
 3. The snow melting system of claim 2, wherein the tip is wide-mouthed.
 4. The snow melting system of claim 3, wherein the tip has an oval-shaped opening.
 5. The snow melting system of claim 4, wherein the holder comprises a belt.
 6. The snow melting system of claim 5, wherein the refillable fuel source tank comprises a dispensing means and contains the fuel.
 7. The snow melting system of claim 6, wherein the fuel comprises propane.
 8. The snow melting system of claim 7, wherein the fuel source tank comprises a propane tank.
 9. The snow melting system of claim 8, wherein the wand comprises metal.
 10. The snow melting system of claim 9, wherein the fuel source tank is removably attachable to the holder via a clip.
 11. The snow melting system of claim 10, wherein the hose is flexible.
 12. The snow melting system of claim 11, wherein the trigger has at least two positions.
 13. A snow melting system, the system comprising: a portable, user-worn snow melting assembly having a metal-containing wand including a handle having a trigger with an internal control knobwherein the trigger has 2 positions, and a tip with a wide-mouth, oval-shaped opening, a hose that remains flexible at freezing temperatures, a refillable fuel source tank containing a fuel that comprises propane and wherein the tank comprises a dispensing means, and a holder comprising a belt with a fastener.
 14. The snow melting system of claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions; and wherein the snow melting system is arranged as a kit.
 15. A method of use for the snow melting system, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a snow melting assembly having a wand including a handle with a trigger, and a tip, a hose, a fuel source tank with a fuel, and a holder, pointing the wand at frozen water, igniting the fuel, and melting the snow.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fuel source tank comprises a dispensing means.
 17. The method of claim 16, the igniting fuel step comprises operating the trigger, dispensing the fuel, and operating a lighter button.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the hose remains flexible at freezing temperatures. 